Upgrading to LED Lights

We occasionally get people asking how they can change their lights over from incandescent to LED.  First, what is an LED?  An LED is a solid-state, semiconductor device that has been specially designed to emit light. In fact, "LED" is an acronym meaning "Light Emitting Diode." At the heart of the LED is a tiny diode that generates light when a small electric current is applied.  There are many benefits of LED lights over incandescent lights.

• Unlike traditional, incandescent lights that use bulbs, LED lamps do not use delicate wire filaments that stretch, weaken and eventually fail.
• LED lamps last longer because they withstand road vibration and shock much more effectively than bulbs.
• The life expectancy of an LED is 100,000 hours or six times that of an average incandescent bulb.
• Besides the longevity, LED lamps consume significantly less power than incandescent lights. The amp draw of an LED can be as low as 1/10th that of an incandescent light. The lower amp draw means more power for other critical electrical needs.
• LED units are also growing in popularity because of greater emphasis on safety issues.
• When a vehicle’s brake lights are applied, LEDs respond instantaneously and provide a brighter, more focused illumination. Incandescent lights take about a quarter of a second to get to 90% full brightness.

Now that you know why LED lights are the latest and greatest, how do you upgrade you vehicle or trailer? 

The easiest way to upgrade your lights from incandescent to LED's is to first find the correct size LED light to replace your old incandescent light, so you replace a light that will fit in your existing mount or grommet.  Sometimes this is most challenging part and may take the assistance of a professional, Class8TruckParts.com has parts pros ready to help with these questions. 

Now that you've picked the light that will fit in your existing grommet, or mount you need to change the plug.  You will need to purchase a new plug as most LED plugs are not interchangeable with incandescent plugs.  Again you should be able to find the wiring and plugs for your lights as a related item on the Class8TruckParts.com site.  To help with the longevity of your new LED lights and plugs we recommend ordering some electrical corrosion preventative lubricant. 

And while your checking over your lighting system you may want to look at replacing any worn our grommets or mounts, it is small investment in ensuring your new LED lights will be trouble free down the road.

Once your new LED lights and plugs arrive from Class8TruckParts.com you are ready to install.  Pull the old light off the vehicle, and pull out the plug for the old incandescent light.  You will need to wire in the new plug being careful to seal the connections with butt connectors.  Use some of your electrical lubricant on the plug and install the new light.

If you aren't sure how to figure out what lights and plugs you'll need, you best bet is to contact one of the pros at Class8TruckParts.com and have them help you find the correct size light and correct plug for your vehicle.